Vintage Staten Island Mall: 21 unique photos of the retail center as it used to be

Editor’s note: A version of this story was originally published in 2020. It has been updated by Sydney Maldonado.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The Staten Island Mall has undergone some radical changes within the past decade, including a 242,000-square-foot renovation, which began in 2015 and has welcomed a host of new stores and restaurants to the New Springville shopping center.

And while new stores are opening at the retail site, older stores — such as Sears — have closed their doors for good.

We’ve gone through our archives and chosen some rare photos of the Mall over the years. So get ready to take a stroll down memory lane, when there was no such thing as shopping via a mobile device or a giant online retailer called Amazon.

1972Aerial view of Staten Island Mall, with a Macy’s store.Courtesy of Skyviews Survey Inc.1974Cars fill the parking lot behind Macy’s in 1974. The Fresh Kills Landfill can be seen in the background.Staten Island AdvanceA large tank stocked with fish provides young anglers an unexpected surprise at the Mall in 1974.SIA file photo1975This 1975 file photo shows shoppers walking through The HoneyComb, a basement area of the Staten Island Mall in the late 1970s to the early 1980s that has since been closed off.Staten Island Advance1976Tottenville juniors and seniors draw a crowd as they do their warmup exercises. Staten Island Mall, February 1976.Staten Island AdvanceThe Colors are raised high during the Richmond County American Legion Veterans Day ceremonies in the center court of the Staten Island Mall in 1976.Staten Island Advance1977Staten Island Girl Scouts show their agility and ability during an exhibition of square dancing in the Staten Island Mall as part of the Girl Scout Week observance, March 1977.Staten Island Advance1978The Mall is home to a Muscular Dystrophy Association fundraising carnival in August 1978.Staten Island Advance1980As a capacity Staten Island Mall crowd watches, Willie Mosconi, professional pool player, combines balance and deftness. February 1980.Staten Island AdvanceIn this 1980 file photo, a crowd of parents with their children wait in line to see Santa Claus and ride the Holiday Express in the Mall Center Court.Courtesy of Jan Somma-Hammel1981This 1981 file photo shows the lower-level fountains located near the center Mall escalators.Staten Island AdvanceThis 1981 file photo shows a couple of the 16 trees planted to give the Mall more of an “outdoor” atmosphere.Staten Island Advance1982In this 1982 file photo, women behind the counter in Herman’s World of Sporting Goods in the Staten Island Mall work feverishly to keep up with customers returning or exchanging holiday gifts.Staten Island Advance1985Santa’s Village comes alive on the first official Christmas shopping day at the Staten Island Mall in 1985.Staten Island Advance1987The Christmas shopping season is in full swing at the Mall in 1987.Staten Island AdvanceIsland Girl Scouts celebrated the 75th anniversary of Girl Scouting with a big balloon launch in front of the Staten Island Mall.Staten Island Advance1988Santa’s castle filled the Mall’s center court. during Christmas time in 1988.Staten Island Advance1989Customers walk to and from the packed parking lot outside the Sears store at the Staten Island Mall.Staten Island Advance1990Shoppers head for the Staten Island Mall’s upper level in 1990.Staten Island Advance1992In this 1992 file photo, a flock of seagulls — drawn by the Fresh Kills landfill — descends upon the Mall parking lot in the early morning before the stores open.Staten Island Advance

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